FANTASTIC CANADA: UPDATED Trucker convoy: Cities across Canada mobilize as anti-mandate protests spread
[I knew the Canadians could do it. This is AWESOME. BTW, the assholes at GOFUNDME pulled the plug on fundraising for the convoys. Typical Jewish crap. Anyway, this is looking awesome. Jan]
While police in Ottawa and Coutts, Alberta, attempt to manage ongoing blockades, solidarity protests are threatening to disrupt other major cities this weekend
Feb 04, 2022 • 37 minutes ago • 5 minute read •
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The protest against pandemic measures, which has immobilized Ottawa’s downtown with scores of large trucks, is an “increasingly volatile and increasingly dangerous demonstration,” the capital city’s police chief said on Friday.
“We’re absolutely committed to bringing this demonstration to an end,” said Ottawa Police Chief Peter Sloly.
As Ottawa residents grow increasingly frustrated with the protest that is entering its second week on Saturday, solidarity protests are fanning out across the country, threatening to disrupt other major cities this weekend.
OTTAWA
Ottawa police are deploying a “surge” of about 150 extra police officers to central areas of the city paralyzed by the protest against COVID-19 mandates.
Sloly says the patrolling officers will focus on mischief, hate, harassment, threats and other intimidating behaviour to send a clear message: “The lawlessness must end.”
However, Sloly warned that demonstrators near Parliament Hill remain highly organized, well-funded and extremely committed to resisting attempts to end the demonstration safely.
Sloly, who said he and other top officials had received death threats, likened the protest to the Jan. 6, 2021, riot in Washington when thousands of supporters of former president Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol in a bid to overturn Joe Biden’s election victory.
Trump said in a statement that the truckers were “peacefully protesting the harsh policies of far left lunatic Justin Trudeau who has destroyed Canada with insane Covid mandates.”
Police plan to contain the demonstration in the area immediately south of the Hill through concrete barriers and large machinery to control roadways throughout the downtown core.
They are also looking at closing bridges and highway off-ramps, while incoming protest trucks will be directed to designated parking zones outside the downtown core. Illegal parking by demonstrators could result in bylaw enforcement, removal and impound. Teams are gathering details including vehicle registration, driver identification, insurance status and other related evidence that will be used in prosecutions.
Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said the RCMP had approved Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson’s request for Mounties to support city police.
QUEBEC CITY
City officials are reinforcing security measures around its legislature with demonstrators opposed to COVID-19 health orders already arriving Thursday ahead of a weekend protest.
Quebec Premier Francois Legault says he’s confident the protest won’t be a repeat of what’s happening in Ottawa.
Legault told reporters on Friday authorities won’t tolerate trucks preventing locals from moving about the city and attending the winter carnival. Tow trucks are ready to remove heavy vehicles involved in the demonstration.
The premier says none of the sitting members of the legislature have agreed to meet protesters.
The provincial capital’s signature winter event opens Friday and city officials said organizers are planning to go ahead as planned.
City officials are asking residents to get around using public transit. It said public libraries would remain open in the area and that city officials and police would work together to maintain public access to businesses.
TORONTO
Two hospitals near Ontario’s Queen’s Park legislature have cancelled a small number of appointments and Toronto Police are shutting down nearby roads in anticipation of Saturday’s planned protest against COVID-19 measures.
Women’s College Hospital said its urgent care clinic would not offer in-person appointments Saturday — and Mount Sinai said it recommended its ambulatory clinics review appointments and reschedule non-urgent care.
University Health Network, which operates some of the hospitals, has “suggested” that hospital staff not wear clothing that might identify them as health-care workers while in the area over the weekend.
Toronto Police said they would close a portion of University Avenue to “normal traffic and any convoys” starting Friday to ensure access to hospital row. They say hospital workers, patients, their families and those picking up patients will be granted access.
Police warn the closures could remain in effect all weekend as the so-called Freedom Convoy rolls in.
Toronto police and the city’s mayor were to provide an update Friday afternoon on operational plans to deal with the protests.
WINNIPEG
A protest against COVID-19 restrictions started Friday morning outside the main entrance to the Manitoba Legislature grounds in Winnipeg.
About two dozen large trucks and farm vehicles, along with dozens of supporters were on hand, with more arriving. Large Canadian and American flags flew from some trucks, along with signs calling for an end to vaccine mandates.
Legislature security has blocked the driveway entrances to the grounds around the building, using concrete barriers, and at one spot, a large wall of snow.
REGINA
The Saskatchewan legislature has been closed in advance of a demonstration expected on Saturday against COVID-19 restrictions.
Speaker Randy Weekes said in a statement Friday that out of an abundance of caution, visitor access has been suspended until there’s no potential threat from protesters.
Weekes said all tours, as well as educational and public events, have been cancelled and security has been enhanced. Members of the legislative assembly, authorized employees, accredited media, service contractors and public service employees are still allowed into the building.
Protesters have said the trucker convoy will stay until Saskatchewan’s COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.
Premier Scott Moe has said the Saskatchewan Party government will do that soon, but he has not released a date.
The demonstration coincides with Regina’s Frost Festival, an outdoor winter event that’s expected to attract families throughout the weekend to Wascana Park, where the legislature is located.
Concrete barriers have been placed around the legislature and access to streets within the park have been blocked off to ensure the safety of pedestrians attending the festival.
The legislature and park grounds will remain accessible to all pedestrians and emergency vehicles.
COUTTS, ALTA.
The impasse at the Coutts, Alberta border crossing was entering its sixth day on Friday. An RCMP spokesman said there’s no way to predict when the protest at the province’s main border crossing will end.
Demonstrators began parking their trucks and other vehicles last Saturday near the crossing at Coutts, in solidarity with protesters in Ottawa and other locations against COVID-19 vaccine mandates and broader public health measures.
The impasse has stranded travellers and cross-border truckers for days, compromised millions of dollars in trade and impeded access to basic goods and medical services for area residents.
An agreement with the protesters opened up a single lane in both directions on Highway 4 and truckers hauling cargo were finally able to cross the border into the U.S.